Wrench.



vNo. 787,587. Y PATBNTED @8.18, 1905.

' K. G. OVBRLAND.

-. WRENCH.

APPLIGATION FILED NOV. 15. 1904.

@incanto/L EG Overland www* q UNITED STATES Patented April 18, 1905.

KNUDT G. OVERLAND, OF FERTILE, MINNESOTA.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 78 7,587', dated April 18, 1905.

Application filed November l5, 1904. Serial No.r 232,855.

To {1J/Z whom, it muy concern:

Be it known that l, KNUD'r G. OVERLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fertile, in the county of Polk and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vrenches, of which the following -is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that type of wrenches embodying, essentially, a suitable shank having rigid and movable jaws thereon andaclutch member cooperating with the movable jaw to fix its adjustment upon the shank.

The invention involves, primarily, a peculiar clutch device for fixing the position of the movable jaw, admitting of quick closing movement of this jaw, but locking the same from movement in an opposite direction until the clutch means has been properly manipulated.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

lVhile the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wrench embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is Aa side elevation of the invention. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line X X of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, the clutch members having been actuated so as to disengage from the shank. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken about on the line X X of Fig. 4 and partially broken away.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Specifically describing the construction of the tool, the numeral 1 designates the shank, which is provided at one end with a handle 2, the opposite end having a rigid or fixed jaw 3 thereon. The movable jaw'4 is mounted upon the shank for movement between the rigid jaw 3 and the handle 2, said movable jaw being provided with clutch means, which comprises the-essential feature of the invention, whereby the adjustment of the movable,

jaw is determined. The shank 1 is provided with two sets of rack-teeth, (indicated at 5,) the latter being located upon opposite sides thereof and reversely disposed. The special advantage arising from the use of the clutch means hereinafter described is that the same affords a more rigid or substantial adjustment of the movable jaw, so that no likelihood of breakage of the parts is incurred when the jaws are subjected to great strain in the actual use of the wrench. Two clutch members 6 are utilized, and these members preferably comprise plates mounted in the sides of the jaw 4 and provided `upon their inner faces with a plurality of teeth 7, adapted to engage the sets of rack-teeth 5 upon the shank 1. The teeth 7 of the clutch members 6 are also oppositely disposed, so as to secure proper engagement of the teeth 5, which also have the same disposition. The clutch members 6 have their vertical edge portions beveled, as shown at 8, or cut away in a similar manner, so as to be received by undercut grooves 9 in the sides of the jaw 4, this construction preventing'lateral displacement of the clutch members in a manner which will be readily seen. Each clutch member 6 is adapted for slidable movement, and a at spring 1() is secured to the under side of the jaw 4 and normally holds the clutch members 6 in engagement with the respective sets of teeth 5 upon the shank 1 of the wrench. The spring 10 bears against an end portion of one of the clutch members 6, and the opposite end of this clutch member is connected with the adjacent end of the other clutch member by means of a link 11, the latter being pivoted between its ends to the upper vside of the movable jaw 4. The link 11 has pivotal connection with each of the clutch members, and movement of one of the clutch members in one direction causes the other clutch member to move in the opposite direction because of the peculiar connection above described.

The end of the clutch member 6 opposite that against which the spring l@ bears is provided with a finger or pressure piece 12, which latter when depressed will cause the clutch member upon which it is mounted to be forced against the tension of the spring 10 and at the same time impart movement to the other clutch member in an opposite direction. The pressure upon the part 12 will therefore actuate the clutch members simultaneously, but in opposite directions, and this reverse movement will effect disengagement of the clutch members from the reverse sets of teeth 5 of the shank 1. The teeth 5 upon the shank 1 incline toward the rigid jaw 3 and admit of the quick lnovement of' the slidable jaw toward the said rigid jaw, the teeth 7 of thel clutch members riding freely over the teeth 5 in the above operation. The engagement of the teeth 5 and 7, however, prevents separat- =ing movement of the jaw 4 until the fingerpiece 12 has been depressed to simultaneously actuate or disengage the clutch members 6 from the shank 1.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a wrench, the combination of a shank provided with sets of rack-teeth longitudinally thereof, a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, clutch members carried by the movable jaw for cooperation with the sets of rack-.teeth of the shank, and link connection between the clutch members, and means for actuating said members.

2. In a wrench, the combination of a shank provided upon opposite sides thereoil with reversely-disposed sets of rack-teeth, a rigid jaw, a movable jaw, and reversely-operating clutch members slidably mounted upon the movable jaw and cooperating with the sets of rack-teeth of the shank.

3. In a wrench, the combination of a shank having reverse sets of rack-teeth, a rigid jaw,

a movable jaw, coacting reversely-movable clutch members mounted upon the movable jaw for cooperation with the sets of rackteeth of the shank, means forv normally holding the clutch members in engagement with the respective sets of teeth of the shank, a link connection between the clutch members, and a member carried by one of said clutch members for simultaneous actuation of said members.

4. In a wrench, the combination of a shank provided with oppositely-disposed sets of rack-teeth, a rigid jaw, a movable jaw, reversely-movable clutch members cooperating with the sets of rack-teeth of the shank, a spring engaging one clutch member and normally holding said clutch members in engagement with the rack-teeth, and means for simultaneously actuating said clutch members.

In a wrench, the combination of a shank provided upon opposite sides thereof with reversely-disposed sets. of rack-teeth, 'a rigid jaw at one end of the shank and a handle at the other end, a movable jaw mounted upon the shank, clutch members mounted in the sides of the movable jaw, reversely-disposed teeth upon thesaid clutch members coperating with the respective teeth of the shank, a spring carried by the movable jaw to normally hold the clutch members in engagement with the rack-teeth of the shank, a link connection between said clutch members for eecting simultaneous movement thereof, and a pressurepiece carried by one of the clutch members for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I aliX my signature in presence of witnesses.

KNUD'I G. OVERLAN D. 

